Cannes 2012: day one - in pictures

Cannes 2012: day one - in pictures

Highlights from the opening day of the film festival include the photocall for Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, while Sacha Baron Cohen stages a grand entrance for The Dictator

Wednesday 16 May 2012 12.50 EDT
First published on Wednesday 16 May 2012 12.50 EDT

The traditional opening day picture: workers unroll the red carpet in front of the Palais des Festivals. It's up these steps that Wes Anderson, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton et al will be tripping this evening, for the opening gala screening of Moonrise Kingdom

The man of the moment: Wes Anderson, relieved no doubt the press screening of Moonrise Kingdom is over, dons a John Travolta suit to face the paparazzi. All that poise is no good, though, if you're facing the wrong way

A slightly quieter affair: the distingished members of the jury face the photographers. On the left is fashion designer Jean-Paul Gautier, on the right is Ewan McGregor; between them is Diane Kruger. She's clearly got a sixth sense for cameras

Is this the longest promotional tour in history? Sacha Baron Cohen has been keeping The Dictator going since the Oscars, some four months ago. Here he is 'noticed' with one of his submachine-gun-toting henchmen aboard a fancy yacht up at the Hotel du Cap, Cannes' refuge for the super rich

Apropos of nothing, that's Eva Herzigova over there, standing on the roof of the Martinez Hotel. Well, what would Cannes be without a few random shots of beautiful people? Nothing and nowhere, that's for sure